EBRSO making a move to new building, unexpected costs arise

19th Judicial District Courthouse

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's headquarters is scheduled to move from Downtown to their new headquarters at the State Department of Transportation building near the airport next month. Last March the Metro Council approved a deal that moves the headquarters.

The current Sheriff's Office will be torn down and used for green space.

The change also means the Sheriff wants to move the gate through which prisoners go to court, also known as a Sally Port.

The moving of the Sally Port on the new courthouse is the latest in an unexpected number of modifications to the new court building. Late last year, the court had to replace its phone system after it crashed. It cost $160,000.

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux met with members of the 19th Judicial District Court House Building Committee Wednesday to decide what to do with the Sally Port.

A few years ago, when plans to move the headquarters fell through, the Sheriff's Department had to stay next to the new courthouse and that brand new structure had to be modified.

The Sally Port landed on the west side of the 19th JDC building with direct access to St. Louis Street and too much access to the public. The Sheriff says that's not safe.

He says having it there poses a problem to vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic, and it is also a very congested area.

For now, it is unclear who will pay for a new Sally Port. The chairperson of the Building Committee, Janice Clark, says she would hope the Sheriff's Office or the City-Parish would fund it. "I think it should be a top priority for the sheriff's office and the City-Parish and we will be as cooperative as we can and we hope they would appropriate the necessary funds."